Means for attaching hinged lids to rectangular metal boxes



Feb. 2 Q1926.

A F.51EY' MEANS FOR ATTACHING HINGED LIDS T0 RECTANGULAR METAL BOXES 3 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 9, 1922 MEANS FOR ATTAGHING HINGED LIDS T0 RECTANGULAR METAL BOXES Filed Oct. 9, 1922 3 Shegts-Sheet 2 Feb. 2,1926. v 1,571,429

A. F. NEY

MEANS FOR ATTACHING HINGED LIDS T0 RECTANGULAR METAL BOXES Filed Oct. 9, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet :5

Patented Feb. 2, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANDREI/V FRANCIS NEY, OF EAST KEW', VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA, ASSIGNOR TO BRYANT AND MAY PROPRIETARY LIMITED, 033 RICHMOND, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA.

MEANS FOR ATTACHING HINGED LIDS TO RECTANGULAR METAL BOXES.

Application filed October 9, 1922.

To all whom. it may canoe mt:

Be it known that ANDREW FRANCIS Nnr, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Glenelg, Edward Street, East Kew, in the State of Victoria, Commonwealth of Australia, has invented new and useful Improvements in Means for Attaching Hinged Lids to Rectangular Metal Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention refers to rectangular metal boxes with hinged lids such for instance as are used for containing vestas tobacco or chocolate. Such boxes are punched in one side witha pair of aligned'h'inge pops into which are respectively inserted the ends of a hinge pin adapted to be engaged by the curved hinge tail of the lid, which hinge tail is clamped to embrace the pin, said operations except that of forming the hinge pops and bending the hinge tail having hitherto been effected by manual labour.

The primary essential features of the invention consists of mechanical means for auton'latically fitting a hinge pin into the pops of the tin body, feeding the lids to said pins, and bending the tail piece about the same, the pin fitting, and lid feeding and bending operations being effected in sequence by associated means controlled and actuated in tuned relationship.

A further characteristic feature of the invention consists in the association with said primary features of means for feeding from a reel, the wire to form the hinge pins, the straightening and cutting of said wire into hinge pins of uniform length, said operations being followed by the pin fitting and lid attachment operations mentioned and all in conjunction with an intermittent box body feeding means, the whole of the functions being performed in tuned relationship controlled by a single cam shaft.

T he accompanying drawings illustrate an apparatus which will perform in a practical manner, all the essential features hereinbefore mentioned.

Referring now to these drawings Fig. 1 is a plan and Fig. 2 a side elevation of the machine with parts broken.

Serial No. 593,397.

'Figs. 3 and 4 are perspective views of the box.

Fig. 5 is a plan of the box illustrating the first step in inserting the hinge pin.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged section on line VI of Fig. lshowing a portion of a box.

Fig. 7 is a perspective detail view as seen from A in Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a detail View of part of Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is a detail of part of Fi 7. Fig. 10 a. section on line X of Fig. 6. Figs. 11 and 12 are detail views illustrat mg the operation of part of the mechanism for inserting the hinge pin in the box.

Fig. is an enlarged detail sectional view on line XIII of Fig. 1 showing the lid hinging mechanism, and

Fig. 14 is an enlarged detail thereof.

Fig. 15 is an enlarged plan, and

Fig. 16 an elevation of parts not clearlv seen in Figs. 1 and 2. U

Fig. 17 is an enlarged vertical section through the lid chute.

Fig. 18 is an enlarged section on line XVIII of Fig. 1 illustrating the mechanism for bending the hinge tail of the lid around the hinge pin of the box, and

Fig. 19 is an enlarged detail.

Fig. 20 is a fragmentary section through a box with the lid finally hinged thereto.

Fig. 21 is a vertical section of certain parts 011 line XXI of Fig. 2.

Fig. 22 is an enlarged section on line XXII-XXII of Fig. 1;

Fig. 23 is a section on line XXIII--- XXIII of Fig. 22.

Fig. 2% is an enlarged section on line XXIV of Fig. 1, and

Fig. is a section on line XXV-XXV of Fig. 24;.

According to this invention the bodies of the boxes B are caused to travel intermittingly by a chain carrier 1 in a channel guide way 2 past the various mechanically operated parts of the machine. The hinge wire 3 is supplied on a reel 4 and drawn from same through straightening pins 5 by means of grippers 6 (Figs. 1, 2, 24 and 25) one part being mounted on pivoted arm 7 and the cam grip 7, which opens and closes on the wire, is connected with an arm 8 operated by pivoted lever 9 having a roller 10 actuated by cam 11 on the main shaft 16. As shown in Figs. 24 and 25, the wire gripper arm 7 is bifurcated and carries the gripper block 6, beneath which the wire 3- is fed. The cam 7 is operated bythearm 8 and lever 9 to press the block 6 on the a guillotine device the knife13'of which is pivoted at 13 and has at its lower end a roller '14 operated by a cam 15 on shaft 16 so that said knife is reciprocated past thestationary member 12 and shears the wire into the requ'ired'lengths or pins PI The"-wire pin P-is fed through a stationary hollow guide 17 (see Fig. 11) inclined towards the box and the box carrier chain 1,

and engages a guide groove 18 (Fig. '9) in a clamp 19 while its forward end p enters the advanc'ehinge pop 29 of the box (Figs; 3 and g The front end 39 of the pin}? (Fig. 5) enters the'box and is gripped against the side-thereof by means of a gripper 30 having a serrated face (Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 10) said end p-abuttingfagainst a shoulder or abutment 31- on said gripper 30. The latter isprovided'on the end of an arm'36, pivoted on a bracket on a carrier 2 1,'the latter being.

reciprocated on 'the base plate 22 parallel with the boxes by means of levers23y24, 25

(see Fig 2) the latterbeingifixe'd'to a'slide 109 carrying roller26 engaging slotted cam 126 *on shaft 16, said levers 23"and 24; being formed respectively with slots 100, 101. The clamp 19 is mounted'on a verticalpivot pin 20 (Figs 9 and 11) on'the carrier 21- has an offset arni 27 ,'an'd is urgedtowar ds the rear endofthe pin and the boxes by a spring 28 1 on the pivot 20, said-clamp 19 is also provided 'ontop with a pin 32 adapted to contact with a stop 33 (see-Figs. 7, 11 and'12).

Gripper-3O iscontrolled by a spring3 4- (see Fig. 6) and is provided at-the endiwith the arm 36 of the gripper andsupported on a horizontal rail 37' supported on standards 38' vertically slidable in bearing sleeves-39 (Figs, 2 and 6) onthe base plate 22.

These standards are connected together by" a horizontal rod 40 (see Figs; 2 and 21) and this rod'passes through a slot 120 in a pivcted arm 41 controlled-by a spring-42 and carrying'two' rollers 43,-4d engagingre'spem tively canis45' and 16 (Fig. 2) on the shaft 16. Cam 15 operates to slightly lower the rail 37 and release the gripper 30 and cam 26 completes this movement. v

7 -designates a stop for the 29 engagesa guide slot 54L formed in a bar 55- (Figs. 6, '7, 15 and16) on the-carrier to ensure said popbeing in correct position to receive the end of the hinge pin and the box is kept down 'in" 'thel'guide wayibyithe overlying hold down plate 56 (Figs. 1 and 7).

Assuniingthepart's to be in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 i. e. with the pin P in the advance hinge'pop 29 and gripped by gripper 30;at the 're'ar end the pin is cut" away from the reel by the guillotine knife 13 andclamp 19 with the rear end of the pin in line with 'the' rearmost hinge pop 52.

Lever'2d operates "to reverse the movement of the carrier 21,bu.t there'is a slight idle stroke on account of theslotlOO (Fig.1 2) in lever 23. hen the carrier starts to move back wards, at which time the box carrier chain is stationary, the shoulder 31" 011 gripper '30" pushes the pin backwards to engage thehinge pop-52 asinFi'gS. 3 and 4 and-then the gripper swings on its pivot and releases its hold thus permitting the box to advance. The backwardmovement of the carrier continues'and finger 48 advances in the path of offset 27 of the clamp'l9 whichswings the clamp away fromthe box till it bears against the frame 53 of the guillotine or other abutment as in Fig. 11. Finger48 then retires as the carrier a gain moves forward and when theclainp freeathe'" frame*-53 its spring swings it sharply inwards as in F ig.; 12 when pinj32 contacts with stop 33 thensliding off saine impinges the rear end of the pin 7) against the box and'in linewith therear most pop 52 Prior to'this latter movement the gripper 30 has moved into position to receive thefrontendof the 'pin against its g of the lid attaching mechanism." The lids'L a concave roller 35 longitudinally slidable onare 'fed down an inclined chute overlying the boxes and the lowermost"lidcomesto rest on afiange'dsupport 58" (see FigzilT) on the side of the-guid'ewayin an angular position overlying"the-box; and with its lower edge belowthe hinge'pin: The cai'- rier 21 is provided'witlra pusher 59 projecting therefrom (Figs. 15, 16) formed with an extended fingerGO which supports the at 62 to receive the curved hinge tail 63 of the lid.

The lid is supported in correct inclined position i. e. leaning towards the box by a flange 7 4 on the elevator (see Fig. 14) and also by means of a reciprocating hook 75, (Figs. 1 and 2.) on an arm 64 controlled by means of lever 65 having an arm 66 provided with a roller 67 engaging cam 68 on shaft 16.

The elevator 61 is spring controlled and pivoted on pivot 69 (Fig. 13) and is reciprocated vertically by means of arm 70 carrying roller 71 engaging cam 72. As the elevator rises the edge 93 of the hinge tail 63 (Figs. 13 and 14) passes upwardly between the hinge pin P and the side of the box after which hook 7 5 draws the lid back past a vertical plane through the hinge so that it falls and swings into full open position and as the box is advanced, curved arm 7 6 iixed 011 the base ensured the lid coming down flat on the edge of the guideway 2. During the operations of connecting the lid to the hinge pin on the box, the latter is prevented from rising by a reciprocating plate 77 on lever 78 operated by arm 79 carrying roller 80 operated by cam 81. .Also while the lid is passing the curved arm 76, the box is held down by a plate 82 fixed on the base.

The box with its lid is now advanced to the mechanism for bending the hinge tail around the hinge pin. and this mechanism is illustrated in detail in Figs. 18 and 19.

This mechanism consists of a presser foot 83 having a ledge 84 at the bottom and formed on a spring controlled lever 85 with its upper portion bent approximately horizontal and its lower or approximately vertical portion provided with a roller 86 in engagement with a cam 87 on the shaft 16. Operating in conjunction with the presser foot is a reciprocating backing block 187 adapted to descend in the box and bear firm- 1y against the side thereof to which the hinge pin is connected. The bilock is mounted on a lever 88 connected with an arm 89 having a roller 90 contacting with cam 91 on shaft 16. Fixed to the block 187 are angle plates 92 that hold the box in the channel guide way 2.

As the box advances to this mechanism the edge 93 of the hinge tail of the lid slides along the ledge 84 and when the block 187 is in the box the lever 85 operates and foot 83 descends and by reason of its shape and position of its pivot at the same time moves towards the box thus bending the edge 93 of the hinge tail to enclose the hinge pin I as in Fig. 20.

The box with its hinged lid is advanced another step and passes under a hold down plate 94 and is subjected here to pressure in the side opposite the hinge to ensure that said side will not be bulging out suliiciently to prevent the lid from closing. This means consists of a spring controlled horizontal slide 95 reciprocating in a guide 96 and operated by a lever 97 and an arm 98 having a roller 99 actuated by a cam 103.

When the box proceeds the lid engages the inclined arm 104 which raises said lid and swings it over on its hinge pin till it drops in closed position on the box.

A spring controlled arm 105 bears on arm 104 and permits the latter to yield if neccssary.

The chain carrier 1 passes over sprockets 106, 107 and as it turns down over the sprocket 107 the boxes with closed lids are deposited on and carried away by a travelling belt 108.

Slide 109 operated by cam 126 on shaft 16 carries a dog 110 (Fig. 2) engaging a ratchet Wheel 111 integral with sprocket wheel 107 thus causing intermittent movement of the carrier chain 1.

Motion is transmitted to shaft 16 by pinions 112 113, the former being fixed on the main drive shaft 114.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that the steps necessary for the fitting of a hinge pin to a box, the attachment of a lid to said pin the bending of the hinge tail of the lid round saw pin, the closing of the lid and final delivery of the box with closed lid are all performed in regular quence and the operations can be carried on continuously and with a degree of speed and accuracy unattainable by hand labour. The performance by mechanical means of the said sequence of steps has not so far as known previously been effected.

I claim 1. In means for attaching hinged lids to rectangular metal boxes having a pair of aligned hinge pops, means for feeding the forward end of the hinge pin through one pop in the box, and a reciprocating carrier having a gripper thereon for gripping the forward end of the pin against the inside of the box and an abutment on said gripper against which said end of the pin abuts substantially for the purpose specified.

2. In means for attaching hinged lids to rectangular metal boxes of the type specified, gripping means as specified in claim 1 with means operating after the first rearward movement of the carrier of said gripping means to release the latter.

3. In means for attaching hinged lids to rectangular metal boxes of the .type set forth, a gripper mounted upon a reciprocating carrier for gripping the forward end of the pin against the inside of the box, and a clamp on said carrier for holding the other end of the pin against the outside of the box 4. In means for attaching hinge-d lids to iectangular metal boxes as specified, a gripper on a pivoted spring controlled lever on a reciprocating carrier and adapted to descend into the box and grip the forward end ofthe pin, an abutment onsaid gripper 7 means to raise said gripper and a=spring controlled pivoted clamp on said carrier for holding the rear end of the-pin against I the outside of the box.

5. In means for attaching hingedrlids" to rectangular metal boxes: having a pair of aligned hinge pops, means mounted on a reciprocating carrier for grippingthe hinge pin against the inside and the outside of the box, said outer gripping means provided with a groove for the pin, and an offset arm, and a reciprocating finger adaptedto crossthe path of said offset arm for the purpose specified.

6. The construction as set forth inclaim 5 and in which outer gripping means con sists of a spring controlled clamp providedwith a pin which when the clamp -is released abuts temporarily against a stop for the purpose specified.

7. In means for attachinghinged lids to rectangular metal boxes having aligned hinge pops, means for feeding the forward end of the hinge pin through one pop in the box, a reciprocating carrier with a spring controlled lever thereon provided at its outer end with a longitudinally slidable concave roller engaging a vertically reciprocated rail, a gripper on the inner end of said lever for gripping the forward end of thepin an abutment on said gripper a guide for the hinge pops, and a spring controlled clamp on said carrier adapted to grip the rear end of the wire.

8. In meansfor attaching hinged lids to rectangular metal boxes having a pair of aligned hinge pops, reciprocating carrier with means mounted thereon for inserting the hinge pins in the hinge pops of the box a chute for delivering the lids onto asupport into an angular position overlying the box, a pusher on said carrier for advancing the lids and a linger on said pusher for supporting the lids.

9. In means for attaching hinged lids to rectangular metal boxes having a pair of aligned hinge pops, a reciprocating carrier with means mounted thereon for inserting the hinge pins in the hinge pops of the box a chute for delivering the lids onto a support into an angular position overlying the box, means to feed the lids to an elevator supporting the lids in inclined position and means to raise said elevator to insert the hinge tail of the lid between the pin and the box.

10. In means for attaching hinged lids to rectangular metal boxes having a pair of aligned hinge pops, a reciprocating carrier lid feed chute and elevator as specified in claim 9 and a reciprocating hook supporting the lid and adapted to swing same over in open position.

11. In means for attaching hinged lids hinged side" thereof, I a hold to rectangula i metal boxes having a pair of aligned hinge pops engaged by a hinge pin, a-chute for deliveringthe lid at an angle overlyin'gthe boxes, a reciprocating elevator for causing engagement of the hinge tail of alidhvith the hinge pin, a reciprocating hook for swingingthe lid away into open position,:- a reciprocating: backing block adapted-to enter-"the box and bear against the v down'plate on the bloclcan d-a pi-esser footad-apted when lowered' to bend the hinge-tail of the lid aroundth'e hinge'pin.

12. In means for attaching hinged lids to rectangular 'metial boxes having a pair of aligned hinge popsengaged by a hinge pin,

a chute for deliveringthe lid at an angle overlying the boxes, a reciprocating elevator for causing engagenient'of the hinge tail of a lidwith the hinge pin,'a reciprocating hook'fo'r swingmg the lid away into open position, a reciprocating backing block adapted to'enter the box and bear against the hinged side there'of,a presser foot provided with aledge and formed on the end of a bent spring controlled lever and means to operatesaid :lever to cause the presser foot to move downwardly and towards the box for the purposespecified:

13. In means; for attaching hingedlids to rectangular metal boxes having a pairof aligned'hinge pops a wire feeder an inclined guide for the wire a guillotine for cutting off the hinge 'pins, a reciprocating carrier, a gripper thereon for seizingthe pin in the advance pop, a shoulder on a clamp for holding the rear endof the wire against the box opposite the rearmostpop a chute for delivering the lids, avertically operating with a hold'down plate and a reciprocating presser foot with a ledge for the purposes specified.

ll. In an apparatus for 'hinging lids to metal boxes having pairs of*alined pops, an

intermittently movable support for the boxes, means for feeding one'end of a hinge pin through one pop in a box-,-means to move the other end of the-pin into position for in serl'ion into the other pop of the box, lIlGZlDSlO grip the positione'd'pin, andmeans to move the gripping means longitudinally of the box, whereby thepositioned end of the pin enters the other pop-.

15. In an apparatus for hinging lids to metal boxes, having pairs of alined pops, an intermittently. movable support for the boxes, means for feeding oneend of a hinge pin through one pop in a box, means to cut the pins, means to move the other end of the cut pin into position for insertion into the other popof the box, meansto grip the poping means longitudinally of the box, whereby the positioned end of the pin enters the other pop.

16. In an apparatus for hinging lids to metal boxes having pairs of alined pops, a mo *able box support, driving mechanism for intermittently moving the support, means for feeding a hinge wire into the forward pop of a box, means operated by the driving mechanism for severing the hinge wire, means for moving the wire into alinement with the rear pop, a gripper adapted to engage the end of the hinge wire, and means to move the gripper relatively to the box whereby the severed alined end of the hinge wire is inserted into the rear pop.

17. In an apparatus for hinging lids to metal boxes, having pairs of alined pops, a box support, mechanism for intermittently moving the support, a slide, means to reciprocate the latter, means for feeding one end of a hinge pin through one pop in a box, means carried by the slide to move the pin into position for inserting the other end of the pin into the other pop, and means carried by the slide for moving the pin longitudinally of the box and into said other pop.

18. In an apparatus for hinging lids to metal boxes, having pairs of alined pops for the reception of a hinge pin, a box support, means for intermittently moving the support, a wire feeding and guiding mechanism adapted to insert the forward end of the wire into the forward pop on a box, means for severing the inserted wire, means to position the severed wire in alinement with the rear pop, means to grip the inserted end of the wire, a slide carrying the gripping means, and means to reciprocate the slide, whereby the severed wire is inserted into the rear pop.

19. In an apparatus for hinging lids to metal boxes having pairs of alined pops for the reception of a hinge pin, means for in-,

serting a hinge pin into the pops of the box, a support at one side of the box, means for feeding a box lid onto the support, means for elevating the support to bring one edge of the lid into engagement with the hinge pin, and means for bending said edge around the pin.

20. In an apparatus for hinging lids to metal boxes having pairs of alined pops, a box support, mechanism for intermittently moving the support, a wire feed, means to guide one end of a wire into the forward pop of a box, means for severing the inserted wire to form a hinge pin, a spring actuated clamp adapted to move the pin into alinement with the rear pop of the box, a slide carrying the clamp, means to reciprocate the slide, a gripping member carried by the slide adapted to engage the forward end of the pin during the movement of the slide in one direction, means to raise and lower the gripping member, a lid support at one side of the box, means for elevating the lid support to bring one edge of the lid into engagement with the hinge pin, means to move the lid into open position, means to bend the engaged edge of the lid around the pin, and a guide mounted in the path of the lid to fold the latter onto the box.

Dated this 8th day of August 1922.

ANDREW FRANCIS NEY. 

